Many people with leadership capabilities often do not get the opportunity to exercise them early in their career. Also, many think of leadership as the dramatic visible force they may have seen depicted in movies.
The truth is, leadership is exercised in many ways, and most of us have exhibited leadership qualities more often than we realize. If you think you haven't shown much leadership, there are several considerations to take into account.

Mindset

First, recognize this. If you have consistently met personal goals, have built loyalty in those who work with or for you, or have helped others in a meaningful way, then you have no doubt demonstrated some leadership qualities.

Second, keep in mind that an employer may not be expecting you to have shown a lot of leadership. Often it is sufficient to show that you have experience in selected functions, consistently met goals, and demonstrated that you work well with others.

Remember too that, especially in the case of younger people but also with those more experienced, hiring decisions can be based on intangibles not directly related to demonstrated leadership. Enthusiasm by itself can be a major factor. Appearance, self-confidence, writing skills, knowledge, drive, ability to articulate, and attitude all play a role, and can enhance your overall impression. That classic intangible, positive personal chemistry, still accounts for a major portion of all hiring decisions.

Resume

Structure your resume so that it shows as wide a range as possible of functions or business areas in which you have taken actions and gotten results, especially if your actions involved coordinating or directing the efforts of others, regardless of whether you had authority over them.

If you were part of a team that led the way in some manner, perhaps by developing new capabilities or a new service or product, then no matter what your role on that team, you can legitimately claim to be part of it, and you can cite the leadership characteristics of the team on the resume.

You can also use non-work experience where appropriate to demonstrate leadership abilities and strengths. Volunteer and school-related activities may be valid indicators of leadership talents that can be put to good use by many employers.

You can also create a section highlighting personal strengths, attitudes and values, and highlight those traditionally associated with leadership, e.g., "bring out the best in others," "can introduce change smoothly," "relate easily to people at any level," "build harmony as a team member," "know how to structure others' activities," etc.

Interviews / e-mails / Letters

Any of the positive points mentioned above can be used in correspondence and in interviews. Be prepared to tell stories about instances where you met challenges and achieved results, even if the results are not large in scale or were achieved outside the work environment.

If they show that you knew how to size up a situation and take appropriate steps, whether it is in organizing something, teaching others, or taking quick action to avert a bad situation, an employer will have little difficulty envisioning how you might apply the same talents to their challenges and opportunities.

If questioned directly about your views on leadership, observe that it takes many forms, then break it down into the component parts of leadership which relate directly to strengths you possess, including those already mentioned on the resume, or perhaps others such as, "use enthusiasm to turn around poor attitudes," "can make the tough decisions," "focus other people's energies where they will do the most good," "not afraid to try new methods," etc.

If you consider yourself a leader, then claim it as one of your strengths. You can indicate that you lead by example, and that you are a motivator. Of course, maintain the appropriate degree of humility if you are just starting out. Good leaders try not to brag. Acknowledge that you have a lot to learn.

Actions

If you aren't already familiar with them, conduct research on any industry and companies you are targeting, using the Internet and/or resources in the Business Reference section of a good library.

With the results of that research, you would be well-advised to write a small paper about the major trends in that industry. By sending that paper along with a cover letter, you can divert the employer's attention from examining your past for scant evidence of leadership, toward a focus on the company's and the industry's future. Preparing such a paper also shows a lot of initiative, creativity and enthusiasm, all elements of sound leadership in themselves.

Examine all of your experience closely, work-related or not, and prepare action-oriented stories of the type recommended for interviews. Be prepared to give as much evidence as possible in these stories of how you acted to show the elements of leadership mentioned above, even when the results are not large in scale. This will reassure the prospective employer about your potential to lead when you get the opportunity.

Develop and coach enthusiastic references from inside your employer organization if possible, and from people who have known you in scholastic, volunteer, civic or social settings, or who knew you in business, but were outside your organization, e.g., customers, suppliers, sales reps, consultants, etc. Choose those who will be happy to attest to your leadership abilities and other positive personal character traits. Review your resume with them, and make sure they keep a copy available for reference when and if they are called.

This step will enable you to make the statement in an interview that, "You've heard about me from me, but you really need to hear it from some of the people who know me best, and I strongly urge you to call them." That demonstrates self-confidence and careful preparation, two more essential elements of effective leadership.

© 2010 Robert J. Gerberg    All rights reserved